When is the best time to plant lettuce?

Spinach is a type of vegetable that many of our friends like to eat. It has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many friends think that spinach is the leaves of lettuce, but in fact, the taste of spinach is very different from that of lettuce. Let’s take a look at when is the best time to plant lettuce?

When is the best time to plant lettuce?

Lettuce is suitable for planting in spring and autumn. It prefers a cool climate and is not resistant to high temperatures or severe cold. Spring planting is generally from mid-to-late April to mid-May, while autumn planting is from August to September.

How to plant lettuce

1. Soil

Lettuce has relatively loose requirements on soil, and generally sandy soil can meet its growth needs. However, in order to promote the healthy growth of lettuce, it is recommended to use fertile, well-drained and breathable soil for planting.

2. Sowing method

When sowing, rapeseed is mostly sown by broadcasting. Before sowing, soak the seeds in water overnight, then take them out and dry them. Prepare a shallow tray, cover it with two layers of moistened paper towels, spread the seeds evenly on it, cover with plastic wrap, and place in a warm place for germination. After most of the seeds have germinated, they can be sown. After sowing, cover with a layer of fine soil about 0.5 cm thick and keep the soil moist. The seeds will germinate in about a week.

3. Thinning

This is usually done when the lettuce has 1 to 2 true leaves, keeping the seedlings 3 to 5 cm apart. When the lettuce grows 3 to 5 true leaves, it should be transplanted, with the plant spacing maintained at about 20 cm and the row spacing at about 15 cm to ensure good ventilation and avoid pest and disease problems caused by over-dense planting.

4. Watering

Lettuce likes a humid environment, especially during its growth period, it needs sufficient water. Generally, water it at least once a day. If the weather is hot, water it in the morning and evening to avoid affecting the quality of the leaves.

5. Field management

During the planting period, weeds should be removed in time to reduce their competition with lettuce for nutrients and water.

Lettuce requires more nutrients during its growth period and needs to be fertilized about three times during the entire growth cycle. The first fertilization is done when the lettuce has 5 to 6 leaves, the second time when it grows to 20 cm in height, and the last time before harvest to promote better growth of the lettuce. Fertilization is generally carried out by foliar spraying, and the foliar fertilizer is diluted in proportion and then sprayed.

As for the prevention and control of diseases and pests, rapeseed is susceptible to downy mildew, and common pests include leafworms and aphids. Prevention and control can be carried out by spraying appropriate pesticides . Choose a sunny day to spray and avoid spraying on dewy or rainy days to avoid affecting the efficacy of the pesticide. When growing on a small scale, you may consider manual pest control, which is more environmentally friendly.

6. Harvest

Lettuce can generally be harvested about one month after planting, or when the plant has about 15 leaves. The best time to harvest is in the morning, when the ripe leaves are broken off by hand. After harvesting, wait until the wound heals and then add decomposed organic fertilizer to promote the growth of new leaves. It is important to harvest in time to prevent the leaves from aging and affecting the taste and quality of the lettuce.

The above is an introduction to the planting time of lettuce. In fact, as long as you master the method, it is very simple to achieve high yield. In order to maintain its best taste, remember to pick it in time.